Laying a laminate parquet is an important job to deal with. Whether you've decided to do it yourself or hire a professional, it's always worth understanding what problems can arise. Most of the drawbacks can be avoided by knowing the details to pay attention to and learning how to handle the material correctly.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Preparing for the Pose
Step 1. Make sure you are up to the task
Laying a new floor is a demanding and fundamental job for the home. To get a good result you need to be patient, know the right techniques and have the right tools. Be aware of the time, effort and commitment it takes before starting a project of this size.
If you have decided to call a tiler, make sure he is experienced and qualified; check his references
Step 2. Check the base
This is usually made of concrete or concrete and can weaken over time. If you lay a laminate parquet on a slab in poor condition or uneven, this will be compromised, it could give way, creak, the interlocking system could be damaged or micro-cracks could be created in the flooring. Here's how you should check for insole problems:
- Use a spirit level to make sure it is level. Place a 1, 20 or 1.8 m level on the surface of the slab and check that the bubble floats between the two vertical lines. If this is at one end of the tool, then the base is not horizontal.
- Measure the slits. Any depression of less than 3 mm does not create any problems in laying the new floor, but if you find larger openings, then you must use self-leveling mortar to fill them.
- Look for any elevated area that has a height difference greater than 3 mm. In this case it must be lowered to create an even base for the laminate parquet. If the base is made of wood, you can sand it, but if it is made of concrete it must be sanded with the appropriate machine. Highlight all uneven areas with a permanent marker so you don't forget them.
Step 3. Choose a quality material
There are many chances that laminate parquet is already defective at the origin or that it will deteriorate over time. With wear it can deform, yield and stain irreversibly. If you are working with a professional carpenter, ask him about the best brands. If you're getting the job done on your own, do some research online and read reviews of the various products you're considering.
- Purchase about 15% more of the laminate you plan to use. This way you will have stock in case some boards are damaged or the measurements have been taken with little precision.
- Check that the product you buy does not contain any dangerous chemicals.
Step 4. Install the screed correctly
It is a thin strong layer that can be made of concrete, wood or foam rubber slabs. It is an element of vital importance for the project as a whole, because it protects the floor from the humidity that could emerge from the slabs. When laminated parquet comes into contact with moisture, it absorbs it and expands. A good laying screed prevents this from happening by preventing the floor from yielding and deforming over time. The screed also insulates from noise, retains heat in the home and smoothes the surface.
- A plywood screed is recommended for laminated parquet floors. However, the exact type of plywood you should use depends on the conditions of use of the laminate after installation. For example, if you live in a humid climate, you should use plywood with phenolic glue. When purchasing this material, ask a professional for advice to find out the type that best suits your needs.
- The plywood screed is usually cheap and easy to lay. It is sold in large panels that rest to cover the floor and are fixed with screws along the edges.
Step 5. Check the temperature of the laminate
Material that has been stored outdoors or in the cold is completely contracted. If you start laying the boards as soon as you bring them into the house, then some of the material will still be installed cold. In this case, be aware that it will slowly begin to dilate as it reaches room temperature, putting pressure on the rest of the coating. As a result, cracks and deformations may form which will ruin the whole project.
Wait for the laminate parquet to warm up overnight before placing it
Part 2 of 2: Avoid Problems While Laying
Step 1. Follow the laminate manufacturer's installation instructions to the letter
Most modern laminate boards don't have to be tapped or tapped in place. On the contrary, there are coupling systems that allow the pieces to "fit" together. If you hit the boards with this device with the hammer, you break the edges and the mechanism will not close properly.
Step 2. Inspect each piece of laminate
As you proceed with the installation, observe the boards paying particular attention to the edges, to make sure that they are arranged according to the correct pattern and that there are no obvious defects. Replacing a single board now laid and surrounded by other elements is really complicated.
Manufacturers do not offer any warranty on defective parts once they have already been installed
Step 3. Consider the expansion space
While all precautions must be taken to prevent the floor from expanding, there is no way to totally prevent this from happening. To stem the problem, you need to leave a very small space around the perimeter of the room as you proceed with the installation of the cladding. If you neglect this detail, the floor could warp and fail shortly after installation.
Remember to leave a free space of 1.3 cm along the entire contour of the room. If you want to be really sure, ask a professional for advice on the size of this crack, taking into account the type of room and the climate you live in
Step 4. Check the gaps between the boards
Most quality laminate parquet is built with grooves and other coupling mechanisms that allow the various boards to fit together. In this way, no gaps are created between the various elements. The boards that have not locked together well over time will slip and separate. The cracks have the appearance of black lines that will eventually open and expand. You can solve the problem with a rubber mallet. Tap the boards together as soon as you notice the cracks.
- If you neglect the problem, moisture and dirt will accumulate in the cracks and eventually it will be impossible to close them.
- If you don't have a rubber mallet, find an object sturdy enough to move the laminate, but that won't scratch the floor at the same time.
